REACTIONS

Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar says this is a fantastic budget.

Kumar says they will continue to work with FRCA and the Fijian Commerce Commission so that consumers get the benefit duty and tax reductions.

However NFP Leader Biman Prasad says the 2017/2018 National Budget is an election budget.

Prasad claims that it is good politics but not a good policy.

Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa says that the 2017-2018 National Budget is a typical vote buying budget.

Ro Teimumu has questioned the Minister for Economy on why has he made the announcement now and not after the 2018 general election.

Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy says the 80 new primary teachers will be recruited in August and September this year.

Dr Reddy says the other 120 new primary school teachers and 50 secondary school teachers will be recruited next year.

Health Minister Rosy Akbar says that the health budget allocation for the Ministry means efficient service delivery.

Permanent Secretary for Sugar Yogesh Karan says the increase in the budget will enable them to give priority to the issues in the sugar mills.

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says service delivery will be done more efficiently with more funds provided.

The minimum wage rate for unskilled labourers has increased to $2.68.

Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Nesbitt Hazelman says the government took a cautious approach adding they are not opposed to increase in wages but be mindful of increases and create growth in the economy.

The CEO of Water Authority of Fiji Opetaia Ravai says whatever they wanted to be included in the 2017-2018 national budget has been taken into consideration in the budget announcement.

Ravai says everyone will be benefitting from the allocation to the Water Authority in terms of their services.

TELS Board Chair, Dixon Seeto says the increment and initiatives announced for the National Toppers Scheme and the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme is a great relief to the parents and students.

FEA Chairman Dakshesh Patel says the rural electrification project will be a planned rollout as they have received $33.8 million for the project which is an increase of around $19 million.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Parveen Bala says he is happy that whatever his Ministry has asked for has been given to them in the 2017-2018 national budget.

Bala says the highlight of this year’s budget for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is the announcement of the freeze on taxi, minibus and carrier permit to be lifted from the 1st of January 2018.